An accumulator who is virtually impossible to distract at the crease, Michael Hussey waited a decade before becoming an overnight star. Others might have given up, or at least relaxed, during all that time in the backblocks of the Sheffield Shield and County Championship, but Hussey maintained the intensity and was soon living in a statistical world occupied by few others. After two years in the Test side his average rose to 86.18; it had already taken 29 ODIs for his mean to drop below 100. In just 166 days he become the fastest player to 1000 Test runs, but he was reluctant to dwell on the records because he knew the sky-high ride wouldn't last.

He was right and the recession hit hard in 2008-09. Despite being forced to battle for runs and his spot in the various teams, he continued to talk cheerfully and walk quickly. As a batsman he is old fashioned, preferring to work and caress the ball, especially through cover with a crisp drive. There are times when he breaks free - batting with the No.11 or in the final stages of a limited-overs innings - and in that mood he can pull ferociously, but mostly he travels at a safe speed. If they let him, he would bat for a week without becoming bored.

Having grown up as a specialist opener, he has spent most of his time in the middle order with Australia and hasn't complained. His team ethic is on display in the field, where he is a reliable catcher at gully and a regular encourager, and he is scrupulous at practice. The overall attitude earned him the Mr Cricket nickname, a moniker of fun and extreme respect.
Peter English

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Timeline

November 4-7, 1994-95 First steps

Debuts as an opener for Western Australia in 1994-95, scoring 16, and grows into one of the state's greatest batsmen. It takes another 11 years of consistent output before he convinces the national selectors of his worth.

August 14-17, 2003 Triple treats

Becomes only the third man after Wally Hammond and Graeme Hick to amass three County Championship triple-hundreds. His 331 for Northamptonshire against Somerset in 2003 follows the 310 and 329 in his previous two seasons with the side. In England he is incredible in the Championship, averaging 79 in 2001, 72 in 2002, 89 in 2003, 36 in 2004 and 76 in 2005.

February 1-17, 2005 Green and gold fever

Is unbeaten on 17 in his first ODI and isn't dismissed until his sixth innings. Picked for the limited-overs tour of New Zealand, he scores 31 off 15 balls in his opening Twenty20. Despite his initial success with the team and his outstanding form in England, he is not selected for the Ashes Test squad.

A fractured rib to Justin Langer gives Hussey his Test break at the Gabba following 15,313 first-class runs, a record for an Australian before wearing baggy green. He is out pulling for 1 and makes 29 in the second innings, but follows up with a composed 137 in Hobart.

November 2005-April 2006 Summer of runs

Three more hundreds follow in his first summer, including a memorable 122 in the second Test against South Africa when he puts on 107 for the last wicket with Glenn McGrath. He finishes the campaign with a career-high 182 against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

November 2006-January 2007 England envy

England supporters couldn't understand why it took Australia took so long to spot Hussey's Test claims following his time in the counties. In his first series against England he starts with four consecutive fifties and crowns the summer with a sweaty century at the WACA on the way to 458 runs at 91.60.

His average is one of the most closely monitored numbers in the game for his first three years in the Test side. It reached 86.18 after back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka and then begins to drop towards the marks of the other mortals.

February-April 2007 World Cup wobbles

The first glitch comes in the one-day format leading up to the 2007 World Cup. His calm outlook, strong team qualities and ability to perform in most situations had helped earn him the captaincy for the Chappell-Hadlee Series, but it quickly becomes a tournament to forget with three severe losses. At the World Cup his first four entries are single figures and he finishes with 87 runs for the tournament.

August 23, 2009 No Ashes fairytale

Goes 15 Tests without a century and is worn down by being part of all three teams. Breaks the drought at The Oval and while his 121 extends his career, it can't stop an Australian loss as England regain the Ashes. He has better fortune with his 134 against Pakistan at the SCG early in 2010, an innings which starts Australia's remarkable winning turnaround.